A new dispute between the police authorities and the Police Service Commission (PSC) erupted yesterday as Police Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun accused the commission of corrupting the 2022/23 Police Constables Recruitment Exercise.
Egbetokun alleged that the PSC had manipulated the process by including the names of candidates who had failed the Computer Based Test (CBT), the physical screening, or both.
The PSC denied these allegations, dismissing them as unfounded and diversionary. It called for a forensic audit of the CBT results administered by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, which the police had questioned.
The PSC also criticised the police for their recurrent confrontations during recruitment exercises, suggesting ulterior motives and corrupt tendencies.
The Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that the police had received numerous complaints from candidates and stakeholders about irregularities in the recruitment process. Adejobi claimed that a review of the list published on the PSC portal revealed names of candidates who did not apply or participate in the recruitment process. Additionally, he noted that some candidates who failed the CBT or physical screening were included in the list, along with others who were disqualified for medical reasons.
Egbetokun had formally objected to the list in a letter to the PSC Chairman on June 10, 2024, citing these discrepancies. Despite acknowledging the PSC’s authority to recruit for the police, Egbetokun argued that this power does not extend to recruiting unqualified individuals. He stressed that the police bear the consequences of such recruitments and called for a transparent and credible review of the process.
Adejobi highlighted that the PSC had formed a Joint Recruitment Board following a Supreme Court ruling affirming its recruitment powers. However, he alleged that the Board was sidelined, with the final list being released without its consent. The police have since dissociated themselves from the published list and demanded a thorough review to ensure the recruitment of qualified individuals.
In response, the Joint Union Congress (JUC) of the PSC insisted that due process was followed. The JUC accused the police of trying to undermine the PSC’s constitutional powers despite clear judicial support. The JUC also highlighted the inclusive nature of the recruitment process, involving various stakeholders and holding several meetings before the list’s release.
The PSC demanded a forensic audit of the CBT results and challenged the police to investigate any alleged financial dealings or corrupt practices. It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and inclusiveness in recruiting qualified Nigerians into the police force.
The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the PSC is the sole authority for recruiting constables into the force, following a directive from former President Muhammadu Buhari to recruit 60,000 constables over six years. The PSC emphasized that its recruitment process reflects the principle of Federal Character.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently appointed retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Hashim Argungu as the new chairman of the PSC, replacing retired IG Solomon Arase.
